Mayor Sam Adams

Mayor's Proposed Budget

Dear Friends,
 
Earlier this month, I had the distinct honor and responsibility of rolling out my proposed budget for the City of Portland for the coming fiscal year 2009-2010. In the face of the worst global recession in more than a generation, my proposed budget strives to keep all Portlanders safe and secure in their homes, their neighborhoods, their jobs. It is, above all, a basic-needs budget.

• For the student who is already too close to dropping out, this budget increases funding for high school completion programs and summer work experience opportunities by 40%;
   
  
• For the business owner who fears losing everything she has worked to build, this budget increases small and local business assistance programs by 27%;
   
  
• For the resident whose paychecks aren’t squaring with the bills or whose unemployment checks are running out, this budget increases our city’s commitment to housing assistance programs by 30%;
   
  
• For every Portlander who values safe streets and a fire department at the ready, this budget seeks to hold the line on public safety, keeping police officers on the streets, funding service coordination teams, keeping one fire station and two fire rescue units open that were slated for closure, and aiding the County by funding CHIERS;

Working hand in hand with city staff and with guidance from the public, we achieved a balanced budget. We:

• Cut ongoing spending by close to $9 million, 62% percent of those savings coming from administrative costs rather than programmatic spending;
• Invested the bulk of an unexpected, higher than forecast $14 million in one-time resources into the priority services for housing, public safety, local business support and youth programming;
• And, we have more than doubled the City’s contingency fund from $1.4 million to $3 million.

I want to commend all the hardworking Portlanders – citizens and City employees alike—who participated in our community budget forums, employee budget forums, and other outreach efforts. With your input and feedback, we have been able to focus this budget on the programs and services that matters most to you. I urge you to join us on May 21 for the community budget hearing and lend your voice once again.
 
And to the directors of all the bureaus in this city, I want to express my sincere appreciation to you for the frank discussions and tough choices we have had to make. Every bureau was asked to prepare proposed 5% cuts in their budgets, and every bureau responded with strategic, smart recommendations that sought to minimize impact to their core mission while recognizing the very tough budget reality we all faced. Thank you.
 
Portland will weather this economic storm, and we will emerge a stronger and more prosperous City on the other end. We are positioned to lead the nation in the green revolution, but we will only be able to lead if we continue to support all our citizens in their individual efforts to make a better life for themselves.
 
As I said in my State of the City Address, sustainability is about the environment and the economy, but it is also about equity. In these uncertain and financially trying times, this is a budget that gets to the heart of equity. It is a budget guided by both empathy and common sense. By investing in programs that most serve those with the greatest need, we are looking out for our most vulnerable neighbors – resident, business owner, or student. These basic needs that every Portlander shares are at the core of this budget. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Sam Adams